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Ricky!

No, we’re not quoting a line from the movie Boyz N The Hood; we’re merely voicing our enthusiasm for the one and only Rick Rubin.

Following news that the legendary producer executive produced Kanye West’s Yeezus,  Jay-Z announced the release of his upcoming album Magna Carta Holy Grail via a three-minute commercial with Samsung. The commercial shows Hov in the studio working on his 12th studio effort with producers Pharrell, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and, yes, the man Rick Rubin.

Now, if you’re 25-years-old or under, you may only be familiar with Rick Rubin through the Kanyes and Jay-Zs of the world. 

But unbeknownst to you, Rubin is more than just a great producer in hip-hop. He is arguably the greatest American producer of all-time. Once you take a closer foray into his world, you’ll realize his impact not only pervades through the hallways of hip-hop, it pervades through the hallways of music as a whole entity. 

And when it comes to the many artists he’s worked with, the list is longer than that ZZ Top-like beard he has cultivated through the years.

Years that began with Rubin as the co-founder of Def Jam Records, alongside our very own Russell Simmons.

We at GlobalGrind decided to highlight some dope aspects of Rick Rubin’s life and career. Because even though your knowledge of the greatest producer of all time might’ve fallen somewhere between the realm of not so much and not at all yesterday…

 – While a member of a punk band called The Pricks – during his high school years – Rick Rubin and the band were thrown off the stage at CBGB (CountryBlueGrass, and Blues) for brawling with the heckling audience. The hecklers were actually friends of his band, instructed to do so. You know, to create a buzz! While in college at NYU, he played guitar for his band Hose. Hose’s 12-inch EP was the first recording released by Def Jam. It was produced in a dorm activity room with simply a microphone and boombox.

– After linking up with DJ Jazzy Jay of the Zulu Nation, Rick Rubin began to learn hip-hop production. By 1983, they produced “It’s Yours” for rapper T La Rock, and released it on Def Jam Records, a label that Rick started and ran out of his NYU dorm.

Russell Simmons, who already had success co-producing Run-D.M.C.’s “Sucka MC” heard “It’s Yours,” and was impressed. The two would eventually meet in a club in 1984, which gave way to the Def Jam partnership between Russell and Rubin. Rick Rubin was 21, Russell Simmons was 26. 

– During this time, Rick would get countless demos sent to his dorm. One of the tapes that got a lot of burn from Rick came from a 16-year-old out of Farmers, Queens: 

In the book Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label, LL said:

“When I heard “It’s Yours,” I sent a tape to the address on the cover of the single: 5 University Place. And his phone number was on the label: 212-420-8666. So I called Rick every day for, like, two weeks. “Rick, you get the tape yet?” “Nope.” “Yo, Rick, you get the tape yet?” “Nope.” But Ad-Rock listened to my demo [in Rick’s dorm room at NYU] and he let Rick hear it…Rick actually called me back at my house one day. I wasn’t there, but my grandmother answered. And she could tear a name in half like confetti: “Slick Stubin.” “Jimmy Hoogan.” “Flip Loogan.” “Trick Lubin.” I was like, “Rick Rubin?” She said, “Yeah, that’s it!” Jumped on the old rotary phone. Rick was like, “Yo, this is Rick. Come on down. Let’s make a demo.” I said, “Word? Oh, man!” People take pills to feel like that!”

In 1988, Rick would leave Def Jam behind and start a new label called Def American Records. Throughout Rick’s time with Def Jam, the producer would help sculpt some of the most iconic rap records of all time, from LL Cool J’s Radio to Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell.

Even though he would occasionally dwell in rap music — he famously worked on the controversial self-titled Geto Boys album — at Def American Records (Later named American Recordings) he focused mostly on rock acts, like Slayer and Masters of Reality.

-Feeling that the name became too sanitized, in 1993 Rick deaded the name Def. Like, literally. He actually held a burial for the name. The first major released on the newly named American Recordings came from Johnny Cash. Rick’s work with Cash would go down as some of his most memorable stuff. Check Cash’s beautiful rendition of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt” as an example.

– Rick Rubin has worked with an array of many diverse artists that include: Beastie Boys (Licensed To Ill)LL Cool J (Radio)Public Enemy (It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back)Run–D.M.C. (Raising Hell)Tom Petty (Wildflowers)Black Sabbath (13)Slipknot (Vol. 3:The Subliminal Verses)Slayer (Reign in Blood)Red Hot Chili Peppers (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)Dixie Chicks (Taking the Long Way)Metallica (Death Magnetic)Weezer (The Red Album)Linkin Park (Minutes to Midnight) and Neil Diamond (12 Songs).

Rick Rubin with Run-D.M.C.


Rick Rubin with the Red Hot Chili Peppers 

Rick Rubin with Kid Rock

Rick Rubin with Johnny Cash

Rick Rubin with Jay-Z

– Rick Rubin has won the Grammy Award quite a few times, with his latest being a Grammy (Album of the Year) for his role as producer on Adele’s 21, which was the biggest selling musical release for both 2011 and 2012.

– Rick Rubin is considered a guru at helping artists strip down their sound to its essence, where it’s all about the vocals and the instrumentation. The clip of him working with the Dixie Chicks – from their documentary Shut Up & Sing – beautifully illustrates his interaction with artists, and the critical analysis that comes with that. 

– Rick Rubin is a person of spirituality and meditation. He believes music in many ways is spiritual because it’s created from nothing. In a short film with Nowness.com, he stated “The more we can get in tune with the harmony of the planet, the more our art can benefit from that relationship.”

So if you ever find yourself in the presence of Mr. Rick Rubin: the greatest American producer of all-time, no need to contain yourself. 

You should act accordingly:

I know I’d react that way, followed by a…

Follow me @djthabeast, and share your thoughts on the legendary Rick Rubin.